Improvement in picture-frames



2 sheet-s sheet 1.

A. W. HALE. Picture-Frame.

Patented Oct. 8.1878.

N. PEYERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTONv D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. W. HALE. Picture-Frame.

No. 208,681. Patented Oct. 8. 1878.

ALBERT WV. HALE, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PICTURE-FRAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,681, dated October R, 1879;

application filed November 22, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. HALE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Picture or Map Holder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and making a part of this specification.

My invention consists of a device for holdin g and suspending pictures, engravings, lithographs, photographs, chromos, drawings, maps, plans, and architectural or mechanical drawings, which can be used as a temporary frame, or as a substitute in place of frames as ordinarily constructed, and which is also adjustable in size and proportion, so that the same device or holder can be used for pictures, maps, drawings, &c., of different sizes, at the pleasure of the user.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 show a holder arranged for a square picture or map, and Figs. 4c and 5 are arranged for a picture having a length greater than its breadth.

It consists, generally, of corner pieces or clamps constructed to receive the corners of pictures, maps, 850., and so that they can be securely fastened thereto, with which may be --combined a series of braces, which have movement on each other to adjust the holder to differentsized pictures, maps, &c., and by which the picture or thin g held can be strained, as required.

The corner pieces or clamps a a may be made of metal, cast in one piece, or of wood or composition; or the faces only of such clamps may be of wood or composition, with a metal or other strong back, fastened together by screws or other sufficient fastening; and the faces of such corner-clamps may be made of various ornamental designs, as preferred. Projecting from the back of such faces are pieces I) b, which form a right angle with each other, and against which the edges of the corners of the picture, map, 850., rest; and connecting such right-angled pieces I) b is a cross-bar, 0, through which passes a screw, d, for attaching the clamp to the picture and holding the latter against the back side of the face of the clamp. Such corner pieces also receive the ends of the braces hereinafter mentioned, which can also be fastened by the same screws (1 or any equivalent device may be used.

The braces e e c 0, connecting with the corner pieces or clamps a a, may be made of various materials or forms, but, preferably, as shown in Fig. 3, the outer ends being curved or bent, so as to rest upon the back of the picture, map, &c., at their corners, and press the same, as the screws (1 are turned, against the back of the face of the clamp. These braces are held together at the center by plates fg and a screw and thumb-nut, h. The plates j, which confine the ends of the braces together, are provided with lugs orprojections t, (shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3,) to pre' serve the parallelism of such braces, and cause them, as they are expanded, to strain uniformly the picture, map, &c. These braces may also be so placed as to overlie each other at the center, and be held in position by a clamp embracing them, a screw being used, as before, to hold them in any position, as required by the size of the picture, See.

Another arrangement of such braces is shown in Fig. 5, the braces being united by means of rivets k k and screws 1, with thumbnuts passing through slots 2, so as to act as a toggle-j oint. By this method greater force to strain the picture, &c., may be brought to bear upon the corners by applying pressure at 70 70.

Other modes of connecting and arranging such braces may also be made use of, the particular mode not being material so long as such braces are capable of expansion and contraction for the purposes mentioned.

1f the picture or map is small and on thick heavy paper, then only its corners will require protection and support, and in such case only the corner pieces or clamps a a are necessary, which can be attached without the braces e c, and with or without a glass to cover the picture, &c.

If the picture or map is upon flexible paper, or such as requires support besides at the corners, then in such case the braces c 0 can be used in connection with the corner-pieces a a, as shown in Fig. 2.

If the picture or map is of considerable or large size, and on paper that is thin or flexible, (as is very frequently the case in maps, engineers drawings, and similar representations,) a device for extending the braces c 0 equally and simultaneously, so as to strain the paper uniformly, is desirable. Such a device is shown on Sheet 2, Figs. 4, 4*, and 4".

Along the edges of the braces r c. at their ends which enter between the platcsffl are fixed toothed or geared metallic or other strips 0, with which gears or works a pinion, a, which may be, and preferably is, upon the same pin which confines such plates and the braces together. lly the use of such device the straining orsmoothing of large pictures, maps,dra\w iugs, 8.20., is easily efi'ectcd and without injury of such papers.

The holder and its picture lnay be suspended by attachingacord around the screws by which the upper corner-clamps are secured to the picture, or by attaching such cords, when it is desired to have the picture hang at an angle with the wall, to the braces 4' c by means of holes or rings r r. placed at diti'erent points, according to the desired pitch of the picture.

The holder and its inclosed picture, map, &c., may also be suspended by cords attached as follows: The ends of the cord are attached to the upper screws, (1 (I, or a perforated piece projecting downward therefrom, and is then passed through two holes, in m, in a block or slide, a, and afterward through two holes in a hook, 1), attached to or connected with the lower screw, (I, and then back through the hole at in the slide a, and the other end of the cord is secured in the same manner on the other side of the frame or holder. The friction of the cord in the holes in the hooks 1) tends to keep taut that part of the cord between the upper and lower fastcnings, and the blocks or slides a slide on such cord, so that the picture or map maybe lmng at any desired angle.

The same result. though in not so perfect a manner, can be secured if there is but a single hole in the hooks p; and the slides or blocks a are dispensed with by attaching the free end of the cord, by ahalf-hitch, to the other part of the cord, which will act similarly to the slides or blocks a, and thus admit of adjustment, so that the angle of the picture with the wall may be varied.

hat I claim as my invention isl. A picture or map holder consisting of the corner pieces or clamps a a, rigid in all their parts, haying projections b I), to take and hold the corners of the picture, and a cross-bar, c, or its equivalent, to take a screw or other device for tastening the corner of the picture in the corner-piece.

2. An adjustable picture or map holder having separate corner pieces or clamps a a, for receiving and securing the corners of the picture or map, in combination with the adjustable braces e c c I, so connected with each other as to be movable upon or in respect to each other for varying the size and form of the holder, and either with or without the holes or rings r r for suspending the same, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the corner-clasps u and adjustable braces c, or their equivalents, the gearing mechanism 0 p, or its equivalent, for the purposes set forth.

4. The mode of arranging and fastening the suspemling-cords by attaching the same at the upper and lower sides of the holder, and then connecting therewith the free end of the cord by means of the slide a, or its equivalent, substantially as described, for suspending the holder from the wall at difi'erent angles of inclination.

S. NELSON Wnrrn, s. l). LAW. 

